Episode Details

Imposter syndrome is complex. Dr Nicola Gates is a leading clinical neuropsychologist, unpacks this psychological occurrence where people doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments and often feel like a fraud, despite being high performing in external and objective ways.   

Dr Nicola unpacks the causes and effects and strategies for balancing imposter syndrome with achieving results. Ultimately, Dr Nicola offers a perspective that reframes imposter syndrome as a potential catalyst for growth and performance optimisation.

In this episode Andrew and Dr Nicola discuss:

4:45 Definition of imposter syndrome and why it isn’t considered a mental disorder

11:00 Andrew and Nicola’s personal experience with imposter syndrome

15:00 The positive effects of imposter syndrome and Andrew’s worst presentation ever

19:30 What causes imposter syndrome and who is more likely to have it

23:00 5 different types of imposter syndrome including the superman/woman 

33:30 How to balance imposter syndrome with achieving results

36:45 Imposter syndrome and confidence, and Nicola’s experience in the world of academia 

40:00 How Nicola would coach herself and dropping her guard with a group of psych students

45:20 Some of the benefits of imposter syndrome and how Nicola saw Andrew see it manifest 

50:30 Optimising performance and not letting imposter syndrome weigh you down

You can find Nicola at her website: http://brainandmindpsychology.com/